Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an application by a school (details supplied) in County Galway is not a category 1 application in view of the fact that the school is in such poor condition; his views that it should be in category 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12288/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The school referred to by the Deputy submitted a major capital application in November 2010. The application was given a preliminary assessment and was assigned a band 2 rating in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria.

Schools are rated band I when they serve a rapidly developing area where either there is no existing school or where existing provision is unable to meet the demand for places.

A rapidly developing area is defined as:

Located in a large urban centre or within commuting distance of a large urban centre.

An area that has experienced major and significant demographic change in the past ten years. Also

All available information indicates that the process of sustained development is set to continue with a corresponding major and significant impact on the demographics of the area.

There is clear evidence of substantial pressure for pupil places in all schools serving the area.

No school in the area is operating below capacity.

No school is accommodating a sizeable or significant number of pupils from outside of its catchment area.

The school referred to by the Deputy does not meet the criteria of a Band 1 project with an enrolment in 2010 of 33 pupils. However, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department recently approved a devolved grant for the school to build a permanent extension comprising 1 mainstream classroom and 1 learning support/resource room. This will greatly address the deficits of accommodation at the school.

The school's major capital application will be reviewed on foot of the approval of the new permanent extension and will be banded accordingly.

The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the major capital project at this time.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the appointment of a design team for a planned new school building (details supplied) in County Cork. [12297/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, the school's project was included on the list of projects announced on 24 January 2011 where briefs will be formulated in 2011 and the process of appointing a Design Team will commence.

The next steps will be to finalise the Schedules of Accommodation to meet the current and future needs of the school. In this regard, my Department will be in contact with the School Authorities in due course.